San Francisco State University (SFSU) is facing criticism and backlash from students, academics and organizers for its harassment of Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, Director and Senior Scholar of Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies, and its attempts to undermine the AMED Studies program and its independence.
According to a petition launched by the Supporters of AMED Studies on Saturday, August 19th, SFSU refused to list Dr. Abdulhadi’s course titled “Palestine: An Ethnic Studies Perspective” without any explanation, just days before the start of the fall semester. The petition also claims that SFSU assigned Dr. Abdulhadi’s other signature course “Colonialism, Imperialism, and Resistance” to another faculty member, despite their joint opposition and rejection.
The petition argues that these developments are part of a systematic and unjustifiable harassment of Dr. Abdulhadi and a confirmation of the university’s increasing pro-Israel bias and complicity with Zionist organizations that have long sought to silence Palestinian voices and criminalize teaching Palestine curriculum on campuses nationwide.
The petition cites previous instances of SFSU violating the academic freedom of both Dr. Abdulhadi and Dr. Kinukawa, as well as breaching Dr. Abdulhadi’s job contract, which committed to the establishment of AMED Studies as an independent department with three tenure-track faculty members.
The petition demands the immediate reinstatement of Professor Abdulhadi’s fall courses “Palestine: Ethnic Studies Perspective” and “Colonialism, Imperialism and Resistance”, as well as the safeguarding of the AMED Program’s independence.
The petition has already been signed by over 500 individuals and organizations, including prominent scholars.
SFSU has not yet issued any official response or statement regarding the petition or the accusations.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=47753
